The Western world got its first look on Tuesday at Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid when he held a press conference in Kabul in the same room where the Afghan government used to hold media briefings.

The remarkable scene featured a scrum of reporters and camera crews from global media outlets, all there to get their first chance to glimpse and question the man who has been the mouthpiece for the Taliban for nearly 20 years. It happened on a day when the White House says it had been in touch with Taliban officials to ensure “the safe passage of people to the airport” so they can be evacuated. The European Union also says it will begin talks to help negotiate the exit of Afghan families.

The main topic at the presser involved longer-range questions, such as the plans the insurgent group had now that it had overtaken Afghanistan.

With much of the world concerned it would resume its bloodletting ways of years past, the Taliban representative appeared determined to reshape the narrative by essentially saying, things are different now.

From the New York Times:

Mr. Mujahid appeared at pains to strike a conciliatory tone, repeating earlier Taliban assurances that they planned no vendetta against those who had opposed them in Afghanistan, even those who had worked with the American and NATO military forces.

Pressed by reporters Tuesday about what would happen next, Mr. Mujahid shied away from detail, saying “serious talks” were now underway about the shape of a new government.

“Give us time,” Mr. Mujahid asked.

 

As News & Guts mentioned earlier today, the Taliban is running what amounts to a public relations campaign to show the world it has changed, primarily when it comes to its abominable treatment of women.

 

The BBC also reports that the co-founder of the Taliban, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar has returned to Afghanistan from Qatar to a reported hero’s welcome.

All of this as the world turns its eyes to Kabul to see what happens now that the insurgents are in power.

 

More from the NYT:

“We want a strong Islamic system,” Mr. Mujahid said.

But even on the question of whether they want the return of the Islamic Emirate — that is what their oppressive system was called in the 1990s — Mr. Mujahid was noncommittal. What the shape off the government will be, and what it is to be called, will be decided in ongoing discussions, he said.

Mr. Mujahid was asked about the Taliban’s long campaign of bombings, which took untold civilian lives.

“Do you think the people of Afghanistan will forgive you?” one Afghan reporter asked.

The Taliban spokesman said it had been a time of war — “our families also suffered,” he said — but allowed that the civilian deaths were “unfortunate.”